Cement-measuring and water-proportioning device



May 17, 1927.

l J. F. ROBE CEMENT MEASURING AND WATER PROPORTIO-NING DEVICE 2 SheQtS-Sheet l Filed June 22, 1926 May 17, 1927.

1,628,915 .1. F. Rol-3B CEMENT MEASURING AND WATER PROPORTIONI-NG DEVICE Filed'June 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Hot ucyf Patented May 17, 1927.

. UNITED- vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN n. noBB, I" CLEVELAND, oHIo, AssIGNon To xonHfRING COMPANY', 0F

. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CEMENT-MEASURING ANn WArnR-rnoPonrIoNING DEVICE.

Application area faune 22, 192e. serial No. 117,663.

This invention has-todo'with the proportioning of the quantities of cement and vater that may be employed in a mixture of concrete aggregate ready to be laid down upon a surface after thel usual process of agitation in a mixing machine. It is known today thatgood concrete -may be formed if the water and cement ratio is properly determined and -the properly proportioned amount of Water and cement mixed lwith a .quantity of heavier aggregates usually employed until the .mass of aggregate is workable.

The present inventionhas for its particuf lar object the designing of cement and water Vproportioning means applicable to concrete mixing machines and operating as a part of the function of such a machine.

In the carrying out of this invention I illustrate two'diflerent types of proportioningv mechanism, one wherein the cement of a predetermined quantity controls the proportioning .of the water by measuring the amount of such water which maybe received into a suitable-measuring tank, by volumetric measurement action.-

A second embodiment of my invention involves the application of cement and water "rat-io proportioning means to a Well known type of water measuring tank wherein isv A used a measuring pipe that is adapted to feed'from the tank a quantity of water de- `te'rmined bythe adjustment of the pipe within the tank. v

A full understanding of my. invention willl v as when viewed from the rear of a mixing machine upon which it is mounted, the load- .ing skip .being down and the supporting bracket means for the loading skip being illustrated in section, with the drum of the mixer only fragmentarily' shown;

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to per 2, whereupon theconveyor Figure' 2 but not quite as complete as to 'certainvdetails that `are fully illustrated in Figure 2, and showing a modification of the invention; vand t l Figure 4 is a detail VView of a yieldable connection intermediate the cement measuring vhopper and the control means for the water measuring instrumentalities.

In the illustration of Figure 1 there is depicted a well known 'type of concrete paver 'except in relation to the employment in connection with the paver of a certain cement measuring conveyor designated 1 and being of'the endless bucket type. The purpose of this Aconveyor' 1 is'to elevate and measure cement to the extent that a predetermined quantity of such cement may be fed into the hopper 2 and from the hopper 2 into the mixing drum l'of the machine. The cement measuring conveyor is set forth in my previous application above identified and functions to carry in each of its buckets the amount of cement usually supplied in the ordinary cubic foot bags or sacks. The conveyor is ladapted to operate any automatic orv manual control until a certain required numb`er of sacks of cement, or the contents of such sacks of cement, is delivered to the hopstops operating under automatic control. I do not further describethe construction and operation of the cement measuring conveyor' 1 because it forms the subject matter of separate applications for patents and does not necessarily inyolvel-the presentinvention because any suitable type of such conveyor might be employedand I intend that-the present im-l provements 'shall be understood as cooperative merely with such'a type of conveying means. i'

The conveyor 1 and the hopper 2 are suitably mounted upon -vthe framework 4 of the paver which is supported in the usual way upon a traction base .5. The paver is` equipped with the customary loading skip 6 adapted t9 be elevated to deliver a charge of concrete aggregates from a point adjacent to the subgrade to the drum '3 of the mixing machine. The particular means to operate the skip are immaterial to this invention. 4 v

As seen in Figure 2 there is mounted on the uppermostportion of the framework 4 a water measuring tank 7 that may be of a los nated 11. flow of water from a. main line supply pipe p would flow through the pipe 8, its connected' outfiow pipe 9, and the downwardly extending pipe which leads to the mixing drum 3. rlhereis interposed in the line ot' pipes 'just described a three-way valve of known type, the operating lever of which yis desig- This'three-way valve controls the 12 through the pipe 9 into the tank 7 and also controls the passage ot the water from the tank 7 through the pipes 8, 9 and 10 to the mixing drum. ln other words, when the valve-lever 11 holds the valve controlled thereby in one position water will flow from the main supply line 12 into the tank 7 and 'when the valve is in the other ot it's positions water will flow from the. tank 7 to the drum 3. A spring 13 is connected with the valve lever 11 in suchV a manner as to iip said lever to either of its operating posi- ,attached by means ot a rod 27 toa bell crank tions when it is actuated by means of a rod 14 connected dwith one of the arms ot said lever. The rod 14 extends downwardly and is provided with an offset 15 in its length engageable by an arm of a bell crank trip lever 16 mounted on the framework of the machine,' saidtrip 'lever having a trip arm 16a adapted to be struck by the pivot bracket 17 p that supports the'skip 6 and connects it with the framework 4-'of the machine. As

the skip rises and strikes the trip arm 16'- the rod 14 is raised and moves the valve controlled by the lever 11 to its position for causing the' Water to How from the tank 7 to the drum 3. On downward movement of the skip 6 a short arm 18carried by the lever 28. The bell crank lever 28 is connected by a short rod 29 with the valve lever 11. EL spring 30 is used in the length o1" the rod 27 between the lower head of said rod and the lower arm of thelever 28 and affords a resilient means cooperating with the lever 28 in thedown pull on the .rod 27 that engages the dog 25 with the notched sector 24. f

Connected with the upper hopper supporting lever 19 is a rod 31 at the lower end of which is connected the spring 32 which tends to maintain the hopper 2 in an upraised` positionand Vwhich is placed under graduated tensions when cement is fed to the hopper 2'to be-weighed therein, practically speaking, such graduated tensions depending upon the amount of cement that is supplied to thevhopper. This amountot' cement may, be varied according to the capacity of the machine or according to the requirements for proper proportioning ot' the. water and Cement that are to form a part of the batch of aggregates that are to be mixed in the mixer 3.

Associated with the lower lever 20 supportingthe hopper 1s a graduated scale with which .a pointer 34 on the lever magv bracket 17 will at a certain time strike the lower bent end 14a of thel rod 14 and b v tilting the valve -lever 11 in a position near to that previously referred to the three-way7 valve will be. turned to cut off the supply of Water from the tank 7 to the drum and connect the main supply pipe 12 with the tank 7 to replenish the water in the latter, after vthe well known manner.

We come now to the cement measuring` feature of this machine which includes the hopper 2 previously referred to which is movably lmounted upon the frame work 4 as by means of an upper lever 19 and a lower b'ell crank lever 20. The lever 19 is `equipped with a counterbalam-e wcight'-21 designed to be of sluiiicient size to about counterbalance the weight ot the hopper 2 when it is empty. The lever 2O is connected by a `yielding connection including` rod and spring means shown in l-"igure 4 with anoperating arm 23 carried by an axis upon which the measuring pipe 8 in the tank 7 is supported. There is connected with the coact as an indicating means tor determining the amount ot' cement received in the said hopper.

Also, at thelower end of the hopper 2 is provided`a dumping door 34. This dumping door has a pin engaged by a latch member 3G having the trip arm 37, said latclrn'iember normally held in position to engage the pin 35 by a spring 38.

The various parts ot the described embodiment of my invention having been set forth, in operation it will be understood that asthe conveyor l,A or fany" other suitable means, supplies a predetermined quantity oi' cement to the hopper 2, as the latter receives such cement a downward movement of the hopper is caused, dependent upon the particular-quantity of cement supplied. As the hopper 2 moves downward a pull. is exerted upon the connection 22 that adjusts the measuring pipe 8 in-the tank 7 and the greater the amount of cement the greater the adjustment of the 'pipe to .supply a proportionately larger quantity ot water 'for the batch ot' aggregates to be mixed. lVhen the complete quantity olz cement to be used has heen ied to the hopper 2 VIthe measuring pipe 8 Vwill be properly adjusted io feed the proporti(mately required quantity oi water to the n'iixing` drum 3.

yi`he .skip G now upraiscd to charge the heavier aggregates ot stone and. gravel into the drum 3 and as it rises it xipsbymeans lUU of its bracket 17 the trip leverl, opens communication between the tank 7 and the hcn pipe leading to the drum 3, and simultaneously lowers the dog to engage the sector 24 and lock the pipe 8 against movenient While the Water feeding action is taking place. Also, about the time the vwater is supplied. to the drum 3 the skip acts upon the trip lever. 37 provided for the latch 36, disengages the latch from the door 34 and enables the cement -in the hopper 2 to be dis'- charged into the druni3.

The mechanism shown in Figure 3 is much the same as that shown in Figure 2 excepting that the movement of the lhopper 2 iscommu'nicated to an operating toothed sector 40` as by means of the link 4l extending from the lever 20. -The sector 40 actuatesI the operating gear or pinion 42 which engages With a rack bar 43 that forms the piston rod or actuating part of a measuring piston 44 arranged in the measuring tank 7 The measuring tank 7 shown comprises a Water'dispensing compartment 7 a with which the supply main and the outflow pipe controlled by the three-Way valve means previ- 'ously described communicates in the manner set forth as to the construction first presented. The movement of the piston 44 is caused to increase or decrease the volumetric capacity of the measuring and dispensing chamber 7 a of the tank., The outer end of the rack bar 43 extends beyond the tank end head 45 and is enclosed by a tubular casing ymember 4 6.. In accordance With'theextent of lowering movement of the cement hopper,

movement is imparted tothe piston 44 and the greater the amount ofcement handled by the hopper the greater will be the capacity of the chamber 7a, yaccording to the adjustment of the piston 44.

The three-way valve lever is connected vby certain parts 29', 28, 30 and 27, such as Ypreviously described, With a locking lever '25 which in the present instance is connected with a clutch band 46 that encircles l the small clutch drum 47 on the shaft which.

carries the gear 42.

A spring 48 normally tends to raise the lever 25 to hold the clutch band 47 in a. position permitting the free movement of the gear 42 under the actua-- previously referred'to; Athat isto say, when the valve lever 11 is tripped to open coininunication between the tank chamber 7a and the outfiow pipe 10 leading to the mixing drum 3 the piston 44 is locked against any i movement such as might change the capacity of the chamber 7 Moreover. this condition is maintained until the loaded skip 6 restores the lever 11 to its position to replenish the Water supplied from the tank 7 at which time the clutch band 46 will bcv released',

v-tank 7 through the opening 5l to the chamber 7 abut permits vvater entering the cham-` ber 7a to pass through the piston into the chamber 17.

The chamber 7 handles the Water in measured quantities to be supplied to. the mixing drinn and by reason of the fact that the Water when under pressure acts on both sides of the piston44 the pressure of the Water is count-erbalanced in the opposite ends of the tank 7. As the piston 44 moves to the left under actuation of the Weight of the cement in 'the hopper 2, Water in the chamber 7b is adapted topass through the pipe 7C into the chamber 7?. The foregoing provision prevents trapping'of the Water in the chamber 7b and enables the employment of thev counterbalancing action of ithe Water on the piston.

The details of the tank construction form a'separate invention from the present .one and are used merely as illustrative ofthe application of the present invention in the prop ortioning of the vater to the Weight of the cement. f 1

Where parts of Figure 3 are not particu- A larly described, it will be understood that these are substantially the same parts' as are lused 'in the construction set'- forth in Figva cement and Water proportioning means associated 'therewith comprising` a Water tank, a cement receptacle, means fte. supply cement tothe receptacle to vary its position according to the weight of the cement therein, a mixing drum, means forsupplying waterfroin the tank to the mixing drinn, and means for varying the volumetric capacityv of the tank in accordance with the movement of the cement receptacle under the infiuence of cement received in the latter.

A 2. In combination, a mixing machine coinprising alinixing drum, a Water tank connected therewith to supply water thereto, a

cement receptacle, means for supplying cement to the receptacle. and means for var vving' the volumetric capacity of the tank in accordance withtlie amount of cement which is supplied to the .ccflnent receptacle.

3. In combinatioina mixing machine comprising a mixing drinn, a Water tank `connected therewith to supply-Water thereto, a cement receptacle, means for supplying ccment to the receptacle. and means for varying the volumetric capacity of the tank vin accordance with the amount of cement which is supplied to the cement receptacle, the volume capacity means previously referred to coniprising a piston device operating in said tank, means inovably supporting the cement receptacle, andme'ans itor communicating movement oi the receptacle to the said piston means. l

4. In combination, a mixing machine comprising a mixing drum, a Water tank connected therewith to supply water' thereto, a cement receptacle, means for' supplying cement to the receptacle, means ifor varying the volumetric capacity of the tank in ac-l cordance with the amount ot cement which is supplied to the cement receptacle, the volume capacity means previously referred to comprising a piston device operating in said tank, means movably supporting the ce-` ment receptacle and means 'tor comniunicatf ing movement of the receptacle to the said piston means; and means to cause Water to iioiv from the tank to the mixing drum andl tor at tl1`e same time locking said piston means against movement.A

ln combination, a mixing machine comprising a mixing drum, a Water tank communicating` therewith, valve means controlling the passage of Water fromsaid tank to said drum, a water measuring device associated ivith said tank to vary the quantity ot ivater that may be supplied from the tank to the drum, a cement hopper for receiving a measured quantity of cement, and means for controlling the quantity varying,

n'ieans forthe Water by the amount oi' cement which is supplied to said cementihopper.

6. ln combination, 'a prising a mixing drum, a water tank, water measuring means for said tank to vary the quantity of water adapted to be fed therefrom to thc mixing drum, a cement ineasuring receptacle, and means for controlling the action of the water measuring means from said cement measuring receptacle.

7. ln combination, a mixing machine comprising a mixing drum, a water tank, Water measuring means for said tank to vary the quantity of Water adapted to be fed therefrom to the mixing drum, a cement measuring receptacle, means tor controlling the action ot' the Water measuring means from said cement measuring receptacle, means for charging aggregates into "the mixing drum, and means for effecting passage of Water from the water tank to the drum and cement from the cement hopper to the drum controlled. from said aggregate charging means.

8. lin combination, a mixing machine comprising a mixing drum, a Water tank, Water measuring means for said tank to vary the quantity ot 'ivateradapted to be fed therefrom to the mixing drum, a cement measuring rece tacie, means for controlling the action or' the Water measuring means from mixing machine com- :genesis said cement measuring receptacle, means for charging aggregates into the mixing drum, means for effecting passage of Water from the Water tank to the drum and cement from the cement hopper to the drum controlled from said aggregate charging means, andv prising av mixing drum, a Water tank, a Water measuring pipe for controlling -the amount of Water adapted to fiovv from the tank to the druinand mounted in the said tank, a

cement measuring hopper, means vfor controlling the position of said water ineasuring pipe in accordance With the quantity of cement supplied to the cement measuring hopper, valve means controlling the passage of Water from the tankto the mixing drum, and means for operating said valve means and at the Sametime controlling thc action 'ot the measuring pipe.

10. In combination, a mixing machine, a ivater tank, a mixing drum supplied with Water from said tank, means associated with .the tank for variably controlling the quantity of water supplied from the tank to the drinn, a cement measuring receptacle, and means for controlling the Water supply varying means from said cement receptacle in accordance With the amount of cement received by the latter.

'11. A Water andv cement proportioning machinecomprising a water tank, means as-l sociatedwith the Water tank to vary the amount ot Water adapted to be dispensed therefrom, means for discharging the Water from the Water tank ato a predetermined point of use, a cement receptacle, and operative connections between the cement receptacle andthe Water varying means whereby the is being supplied from the tank to the quantity of cement received by the cement receptacle may control the action of the Water varying means.

12A water and cement proportioning machine comprising a Water tank, means associated Witlrthe Water tank to vary the amount of u'aterpadapted to be dispensed therefrom, means for discharging the Water from ltlie Water tank to a predetermined point of use, a cement receptacle, operative connections between the cement receptacle and the Water varying ineanslivhereby the quantity of cement received by the cement receptacleimay control the action of the Water varying ineans,-means movably supporting the cement receptacle, and means for communicating movement from'the cement receptacle to the water varying means to accomplish the controlling action previously referred to.

13. In combination, a movably mounted lcement receptacle, a Water receptacle, water discharge means for the water receptacle, means associated with the water tank to' control the an'iount of Water dispensed therc- :trm by the water discharge means, means connecting said control means with the cement receptacle so that the .control meansI is operable by the movement of said cement reccptacle, and means for holding the cement receptacle in a predetermined position whenempty and adapted to'be operated bythe movement of the receptacle when cement is supplied thereto. p

14. In combination, a movably mounted .cement receptacle, a water receptacle, water discharge means for' the water receptacle,

means associated with the water tank to 'con-y trol the amount of water' dispensed therefrom by the water discharge means, means connectingsaid control means withutheeement receptacle so that the'control means is operable by the movement of' said cement receptacle, lmeans for holding the cement receptacle in a predetermined position when empty and adapted to be operated by the .movement of the receptacle when,I cement is supplied thereto, and common means for causing' the cement` to be .discharged from the cement receptacle and for causing the. water to be discharged from' the 'watertank s receptacle' and water receptacle to effect dis'- and means for opening the cement lation to each other by the operating means therebetween.

16. In combination, a water tank, a cement receptacle, means movably supporting the cement receptacle so that it may be movedA predetermined distances dependent upon the amount of cement received thereby, means for varying the quautityot' water adapted vtvQ/ he dispensed by the water tank and operable by movement' of the cement receptacle, means normallymaintaing thecement receptacle-and the water receptacle in a condition preventing discharge of their contents, and means for opening the cement receptacle and water receptacle to eiect discharge of their contents proportioned in relation to each other by the operating means Jtherebetween, comprising' a device common to the cement receptacle and the water tank.j 17. In combination, a water tank, a cement receptacle, means movably supporting the cement receptacle so that it may be moved predetermined distances de ndent upon the amount of cement received tereby, means for varying the quantity of ywater adapted to be dispensed by the water tank and operable by movement of the cement re ceptac'le, means normally maintaining the cementy receptancleand the water receptacle in acondition preventing discharge of their contents, and means for opening' the cementy charge of their'conterits proportioned in relation to eachother by' the. operating means I therebetween, comprising a device common to the cement receptaleand the .water tank, and including lan aggregate loading- 'skip 'adapted to restore the water tank to closed condition against discharging action of water therefrom.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

JOHN FQBOBB.' 

